κρύος
Wordform Details
Translation: coldchillyfrigid
Part of Speech: adjective
Inflection Type:
masculinesingularnominativeIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma: κρύος
Translation: cold; chilly; frigid; icy (adjective)
Etymology: From Ancient Greek κρύος (kruos) meaning 'cold, frost, ice', related to the verb κρυσταίνω (to freeze). This root is cognate with English 'crystal' (from Greek κρύσταλλος, literally 'ice-clear'), 'cryogenic' (cold-producing), and 'crypt' (underground cold chamber). The word shares Indo-European roots with Latin 'crusta' (crust, hard surface formed by cold) and Germanic words like Old English 'hrūse' (earth, frozen ground). The connection to crystal is particularly memorable - both words describe the clear, hard quality that cold creates.
Mnemonics
- Think 'CRYing from the cold' - κρύος starts with 'κρ' like 'cry'
- Remember 'crystal clear and cold' - both crystal and κρύος come from the same Greek root
- κρύος sounds like 'crew' - imagine a ship's crew shivering in the cold
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Used in everyday conversation about weather, food, and physical sensations. Common in Greek weather reports and casual conversation. Often used metaphorically to describe unfriendly behavior or emotional distance, similar to English usage.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both mean cold, but ψυχρός is more formal and often describes temperature more precisely or metaphorically (cold personality), while κρύος is more colloquial and describes immediate physical sensation
This word:
Κάνει κρύο σήμερα.
It's cold today.
Confused word:
Έχει ψυχρή συμπεριφορά.
He has a cold demeanor.
Notes: κρύος is more commonly used in everyday speech about weather and physical sensations
Mnemonic: κρύος is for crying from cold weather, ψυχρός is for psychology (cold personality)